Thirty-Third Street

Thirty-Third Street runs from the Delaware River south, across River Road to the Pavonia railroad switching yard, then from Westfield Avenue to Federal Street, interrupted again by a rail line at Rosedale Street, and from Federal on to Highland Avenue at the Pennsauken border. As in all numbered streets in Camden, it is North 33rd Street above Federal, and South 33rd below.

— Julie Feinstein, January 9, 2013

After an illness of 10 days, Joseph H. Fisher, 81, lifelong resident of Camden, died yesterday, at the home of his son-in-law, Albert Reed, 103 North Thirty-third street.

Mr. Fisher farmed considerable of the section of East Camden when it was known as Stockton. He had a farm at Thirtieth and Federal Street and another on the present site of Central Airport. He remembered Merchantville when it had four houses.

He was a member of Trinity M. E. Sunday school, Merchantville, when Children’s Day was founded. He was stricken with grip January 29 and became suddenly worse last Sunday. He is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Elsie Reed and Mrs. Elsie Craig, of Collingswood, and a son, Carlton E. Reed, of Collingswood. The funeral will be held at 2:00 PM Monday, at his son-in-law’s home. Burial will be in Bethel Cemetery. He was a member of Amity Lodge, No. 166, Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

When my mother Kathryn, father James “Bud” Mohan, and I moved into 1201 N. 33rd Street in 1941, the street was a dirt road. Our milk was delivered by Mr. Eckles who drove a horse drawn wagon, the van of which was manufactured like that of a truck of steel construction, and fit with pneumatic tires. At the end of the block, where 33rd joined Farragut Avenue, there was a path to the river, where the shell and rails of a seaport hangar remained. Next to the mouth of the path was the disposal plant, which processed human waste. The waste was treated and flushed into the Delaware. I recall lingering on the banks with other kids to watch the grand flush on Saturday mornings. Those were days when we believed in the Jersey devil, marveled at the thick sea of fireflies as night came on, and played hose ball in the streets using 4” lengths of rubber hose and a broomstick bat. In the winter we skated on a shallow pond in what was then called Baldwin’s Run. Mark Twain’s Hannibal Missouri had nothing on Cramer Hill.

— Jim Mohan, May 14, 2014

101 South 33rd Street — Philip J. & Bertha Carlin Family, 1920s–1930s. Philip John Carlin aka Johnny Toomey; William “Billy” Toomey.

‘Peggy’ Aroused Deaf Master When She Detected Gas Fumes

Medals are usually given for acts of bravery and heroes are found in every walk of life, but today it is the animal that will be decorated. The rewards will be given at the Union auditorium, 229 West 48th Street, New York.

Three dogs from New Jersey will receive precious pieces of metal from Mrs. Diana Belais, founder and president of the New York Vivisection Society.

“Peggy,” a poodle owned by William H. Ketler, city librarian, who resides at 247 South Thirty-third Street, Camden, is one of the trio to be honored.

Two years ago, Peggy detected fumes of escaping gas, in the home. The animal aroused its master and was instrumental in saving the lives of Mr. and Mrs. Ketler and son. Realizing the deafness of the librarian, the canine jumped upon the bed and barked. It also scratched the chest of Ketler until he awoke.

The other dogs to be decorated are: “Sonny,” owned by Mrs. Amzi S. Dodd of Long Branch, and “Rin-Tin-Tin,” owned by Emil Rose of 181 High Street, Nutley.

“Sonny,” a pedigreed St. Bernard, saved a family by barking, and “Rin-Tin-Tin,” police puppy, also did heroic work.

Mr. Ketler passed away March 29, 1936. His widow and son were living on North 23rd Street by 1940.